Josh Naylor smashed a two-run homer and marked the moment by tapping his helmet with his bat, propelling the Cleveland Guardians to a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday evening.
Naylor’s blast in the fifth inning against Alex Wood brought in Steven Kwan, granting Cleveland a 4-2 lead. Showing his excitement, Naylor gave his head a firm tap with both hands as the ball sailed over the right-center fence, then joyfully tossed his bat onto the field.
“After the game, I just try to stay composed and be the best version of myself,” Naylor remarked in a calmer tone. “It was a special moment, but it was all for the team. When we face challenges, we rise up.”
Two innings later, Naylor drove in Kwan once again, this time with an RBI single off Austin Adams. He’s been on fire at home this season, batting .429 with five homers, 11 RBIs, and eight runs scored in eight games.
“In those moments, he really shows his true competitive spirit,” Kwan commented. “Off the field, he’s the epitome of a kind Canadian, always looking out for others.”
Kwan had a stellar game himself, hitting two doubles and two singles, making it his MLB-leading sixth game with three hits. José Ramírez and Ramón Laureano contributed RBI doubles for the Guardians, who currently boast the best record in the American League at 15-6.
Under the leadership of rookie manager Stephen Vogt, Cleveland has won six of their last seven games, marking their strongest start through 21 games since 1999.
“That’s just Josh Naylor being Josh Naylor, full of emotion and charisma,” Vogt remarked. “As long as he didn’t hurt himself during the celebration, I’m all for it.”
Guardians starter Logan Allen (3-0) pitched five innings, conceding three runs on five hits, while Emmanuel Clase secured his sixth save in eight chances with a solid ninth inning.
Max Schuemann evened the score at 2-2 in the fifth with his first major league hit, a home run, triggering an emotional celebration from his family in the stands. Schuemann, a 26-year-old newcomer who debuted on April 12, also managed to steal a base.
